NAIROBI, Kenya – Low-cost Kenyan airline Jambojet has halted its flights to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after rebels entered the centre of Goma, claiming capture of the city following the escalating conflicts.
Goma International Airport (GOM/FZNA) is located approximately 2 kilometres from the city centre of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Recently, there have been reports of the airspace over Goma being closed due to developments related to the M23 rebel group.
In a statement, Jambojet regretted informing its customers that it had temporarily halted its service between Nairobi and Goma (Goma) effective Monday, January 27, 2025, due to the increasing safety concerns and closure of the airspace.
“The safety and security of our guests and staff is our utmost priority. We are closely monitoring these developments and will deliberate on the next steps together with key stakeholders both in Goma and Nairobi,” the airline said in a statement seen by Y News.
Why Jambojet has cancelled its flights to Goma
The statement further went on:
“Our customer service team is in touch with all affected guests and JM Cargo customers through our official communication channels. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and you most sincerely for your understanding. “
On Monday, January 27, 2025, Rwandan-backed M23 rebels marched into the centre of east DRC’s largest city in the latest escalation of decades of conflict in a region already suffering one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The rebel alliance, spearheaded by the ethnic Tutsi-led M23 militia, announced it had captured the whole of the lakeside city, but that could not be independently confirmed.
Gunfire had rung near the airport, city centre, and border with Rwanda, with two resumes reporting ongoing clashes between government-aligned militia and M23 fighters.
Y News understands that the M23, the latest in a long line of Tutsi-led rebel movements backed by Rwanda, captured Goma in 2012 but withdrew days later after an agreement brokered by neighbouring nations.
The DRC has over 100 armed groups, mainly in the east of the central African nation of 100 million people that is roughly the size of Western Europe and has plentiful mineral supplies in the sights of Chinese and Western companies.
On Sunday night, Kenyan President William Ruto announced that leaders from the East African Community (EAC) will convene an emergency meeting on Wednesday over deadly clashes in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
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Already, Kinshasa has withdrawn its diplomats from Kigali as Rwanda-backed M23 rebels advanced on the key city of Goma.
“Consequently, and having consulted with the Heads of State of the region on this dire situation, we will be convening an extraordinary EAC Summit within the next 48 hours to deliberate on this crisis and chart a way forward,” said President Ruto in a dispatch from the State House.
President Ruto was in late November 2024 elected to chair the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State Summit, the top decision-making organ of the bloc.
GOMA FLIGHTS UPDATE. Jambojet regrets to inform you that we are temporarily halting our service between Nairobi and Goma (DRC) effectively Monday, 27th January 2025, due to the increasing safety concerns and closure of the airspace. #HeyJambojet
The Kenyan leader said the forthcoming meeting is in line with the EAC Summit’s decision of November 2024, which called for constructive engagement to address the ongoing conflict.
The resource-rich eastern provinces of North and South Kivu have been plagued by conflicts for three decades, with the Rwanda-backed M23 emerging as one of the most powerful armed groups in recent years.
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It has seized vast swathes of the east of the DRC since 2021, displacing thousands and triggering a humanitarian crisis.
“The escalating conflict and deteriorating situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are of grave concern to the people and governments of East Africa,” President Ruto further said.
Noting the worsening humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by ongoing military actions, including the closure of airspace in Goma, President Ruto called for the immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities.
“I emphasise the obligation of all parties to facilitate humanitarian access to affected populations and urge both sides to pursue peaceful means to resolve this tragic conflict,” he explained.
President Ruto reiterated that these alarming developments, coupled with rising diplomatic tensions in the region, underscore the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to a conflict that continues to inflict untold suffering on the people, particularly women and children.
